“The…election and rising gas prices have raised the topic of energy to a higher level of importance for most Americans. Whatever it takes to make us examine what is required to produce the energy we crave in this country is good because it causes us to consider our responsibilities to the world today and to future generations.

Since that post, the election has ended, and gas prices have dropped by half – showing just how volatile the energy market can be and underscoring the importance of creating a secure energy future. With that in mind, Claire’s Part 2 post establishes a framework which anyone might use to make an informed decision about energy alternatives – and tests it through the example of nuclear power.

“The…election and rising gas prices have raised the topic of energy to a higher level of importance for most Americans. Whatever it takes to make us examine what is required to produce the energy we crave in this country is good because it causes us to consider our responsibilities to the world today and to future generations.

Theodore Roosevelt, years ahead of his time, was an instrumental force in initiating wise conservation of our resources.

“In utilizing and conserving the natural resources of the Nation, the one characteristic more essential than any other is foresight… The conservation of our natural resources and their proper use constitute the fundamental problem which underlies almost every other problem of our national life.”

Address to the National Editorial Association,
Jamestown, Virginia, June 10, 1907.

The importance of the resources used for the production of energy show that Teddy Roosevelt was especially correct in predicting that conservation of resources would affect every other problem in our lives.”

Check out the full post for more information – including criteria for evaluating our options, so we can make a smart decision about what comes after oil. Check back for Parts 2 and 3 – coming soon.

And in case you missed it – here’s a link to Oil Rules’ tour through the Wiess Energy Hall with Claire. Wondering why gas is $4 a gallon? We can’t promise your wallet will be wincing any less, but a visit to this hall is sure to clear things up – and hopefully inspire some ideas about alternatives for the future.

Energy is a topic that relates to every one of us – and with the recent spike in the price of oil, it’s something we’re all following closely. I can’t think of a better place to learn quickly and easily about the oil and gas industry than the Weiss Energy Hall, here at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

The Oil & Gas Investor agreed – and now, you can see us featured on their Web site. In her article, Meredith Cantrell does a great job of getting the point across that the Wiess Energy Hall is a great resource for all ages and for people from all walks of life. I was excited when I heard that such a financial icon was coming to check us out. If I were an investor, I would want to know all I could about the industries that I was investing in.

While they were here, Meredith interviewed me and compiled a short video. The film also shows the large variety of displays in the hall.

If you can see this, then you might need a Flash Player upgrade or you need to install Flash Player if it's missing. Get Flash Player from Adobe.

Explore Energy! Meredith Cantrell speaks with Claire Scoggin, Director of the Wiess Energy Hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, for a piece in the Oil & Gas Investor online. They have kindly agreed to let us share it here. Videography by Lindsay Goodier.

The day this was filmed, we also met Lindsay Goodier, the Online Editor for Oil and Gas Investor, who has a blog called Oil Rules which I thoroughly enjoy reading. She is always on top of what is developing in the oil and gas industry and has fun talking about it. Check it out!